Abstract: Background: Iron deficiency and malaria are common scourges of children around the world and both conditions may coexist with the other in some individuals, especially in the tropics where malaria is endemic. This study set out to determine the concurrent existence of iron deficiency and malaria among children aged 0 - 5years in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
Method: One hundred and eighteen children clinically assessed and queried for malaria were purposively recruited as subjects. Forty apparently healthy age-matched children were enrolled as the control group. The parameters assessed were packed cell volume (PCV), examination of red blood cell morphology by the thin blood film, malaria parasite by the Giemsa thick blood film and serum ferritin by enzymometric assay. Data were analysed using the chi-squared test to determine the effect of one variable on the other while comparison between two groups was carried out by the Student’s T-test.
Result: The mean PCV of malaria parasite positive subjects (23.90 ± 0.91) was significantly lower than the mean PCV of malaria parasite negative subjects (33.32 ± 1.01) (t =5.72, P<0.05 (0.001)). Both low serum iron level and malaria positivity had significant relationship with the hematocrit of the subjects. Serum ferritin of the patients also showed a significant association with PCV (P<0.05 (0.001)). Children in the age range 1 to 3 manifested the greatest frequency for both low iron levels and malaria positivity.
Conclusion: The co-existence of iron deficiency and malaria among children in the study population is pronounced. Children between age 1 and 3 are at greatest risk of severe iron deficiency and malaria infection in malaria-endemic areas, unless preventive measures are taken. Low serum ferritin levels among children predisposes to malaria infection such that the lower the serum ferritin level is, the more the susceptibility to malaria.
Keywords: anemia, children, iron deficiency, malaria.
Title: CONCURRENT EXISTENCE OF MALARIA AND IRON DEFICIENCY AMONG UNDER-6 CHILDREN IN ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA
Author: Dr Ayodele O. Ilesanmi, Dr Okezie C. Okamgba, Mrs Rosemary I. Ilesanmi, Kikelomo Oyeleke, Mr Arinze Anyiam, Miss Motunrayo Agbede
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
Vol. 10, Issue 1, April 2022 - September 2022
Page No: 25-34
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 12-May-2022
